Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14

MAN OF DEST1NY-AND SOME RAN
DOM REcoLLECTIoNs OF THE FIRST
REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS
TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION.
About the most entertaining talker
have listened to for many day is Judge
James Madison Nelson, of Nyack, N. Y.
He is native of Clark county, KY. His
father, Thomas Pope Nelson, was the
first United States minister to Turkey,
and died while a member of Congress from
the Winchester, KY, district. His great
grandfather was Thomas N elson, Jr.. one
of the Virginia signers of the Declaration
of Independence. Nelson county, of
which Bardstown is the seat, was named
for this famous family. Gen Nelson, who
was killed at the Calf House early in the
war by Gen. Jeff. Davis, and his brother,
Gen. Nelson, late Minister to Mexico,
familiar figure IN Washington, are of the
immediate family. Judge James Madi son
Nelson went from Kentucky to Illinois,
and later to New York, where he has re-
peatedly been member Of the legislature
ADD prominent in politics. He knew
Abraham Lincoln intimately for a quar-
ter of century. and was often with him
at the White House during the trying
times of the war. He is an ardent admir-
or of the ''martyr President,'' but must.
he says, smile at the stories told and the
efforts to manufacture demigod. He
says Mr.. Llncolon was child of nature,
with kindly impulses, some streaks of
genius and much cunning, which compen-
stated for his lack of culture. The Judge
tells me some things which I am
satisfied have never appeared in print.
Said he: I'm religion Mr.. Lincoln was
about of the same belief as Bob Ingersoll,
and there is no account of his ever having
changed. He went to church a few times
with his family while he was President,
but so far as have been able to find ont
he remained an unbeliever. asked him
once about his fervent Thanksgiving mes
sage, and twitted him with being an un-
believer in what was published. oh,
sense, and it pleases the fools.' Mr.. Lin
coin in his younger days, wrote a book,
which was published, in which he endeav-
ored to prove the fallacy of the plan of
salvation and the divinity Of Christ"
sis it true that Lincoln was lunatic
for time2'' 1 asked.
"Yes. He went crazy because he could
not marry sister of Judge Vivian Ed
wards, who was native of Logan coun.
ty, KY, but then Judge in Illinois. Lin
coin went stark mad on this last affair
and was confined in log hut with the
roof nailed down to prevent his escape
and was fed through crack between the
logs. Some young Kentuckians, whose
fathers had settled them upon the rich
lands of Southern Illinois, heard that a
young man from their State was shut up
under such miserable conditions, and they
went up to the lonely cabin and took him
to Kentucky. where he was placed in an
asylum and remained for year or eight
cen months. He afterward married Miss
Todd, Judge Edwards sister-ln-law, you
will remember. It was an ill-starred
match, and she led him an unhappy life.
1t was that which gave him that woe
begone look. COngenially mated he would
have been one of the happiest of men. His
wife fused and quarreled with him. She
had contempt for his plebeian origin,
and often tainted him with it. She was
more rabid Republican during the war
than her husband. though she was doubt
ed at the North.
''As an illustration of my statement her
youngest sister. Lucy, bad married an
Albanian named VIM. White. White
was elected to the Confederate Congress
and was at Richmond. His wife was Wis.
iting relatives in Kentucky at the time
and came by Washington to get pass
through the lines. She called at the White
House and sent her name to her sister,
the Presidents wife. Mrs. Lincoln re-
fused to see her. She sent her name up
again and was a second time refused
She went to the National Hotel and sought
Mr.. Crittenden, who was then Senator
from Kentucky. 'Why,' said he, ARE you
q daughter of my old friend, Col. Todd =
and he Rugged and kissed her there and
then as he would a child. OF course.
said he, you haye been to seen your sister
at the White house?'
"'Yes,' she replied; but she refused to
see me-
"'Very WE'LL said Mr.. Crittenden; I
will see what can do for you with the
President. I think I can get you pass
through the lines t. y..i husband The
next day Mr.. Crittenden went with her 10
the White House and, leaving her in the